Latching apparatus and methods

Abstract

Latching apparatus and methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a first latch portion including a first tooth and a first pin disposed in a first aperture defined by the first tooth and a second latch portion including a second tooth and a second pin disposed in an second aperture defined by the second tooth. The second tooth of the second latch portion is to mesh with the first tooth of the first latch portion to substantially orient the first pin and the second pin along an axis. The example apparatus further includes an actuator adjacent a first end of one of the first latch portion or the second latch portion to move the first pin and the second pin along the axis to lock the first latch portion to the second latch portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a wing of an aircraft including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion to move between a folded position and a spread position; 
 a first catch disposed on the first portion of the wing and a second catch disposed on the second portion of the wing, the first catch adjacent the second catch when the second portion of the wing is in the spread position; 
 a plurality of locking bars, a first one of the locking bars disposed in the first catch, a second one of the locking bars disposed in the second catch; and 
 an actuator operatively coupled to a third one of the locking bars, the actuator to move the third one of the locking bars when the second portion of the wing is in the spread position to cause at least two of the locking bars to be disposed in each of the first catch and the second catch to lock the second portion of the wing in the spread position. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to determine if the second portion of the wing is locked in the spread position. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a lock to lock the actuator in an actuated state. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locking bars are to be substantially coaxial when the second portion is in the spread position. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second actuator operatively coupled to one of the locking bars, the second actuator to be back-driven when the locking bars are moved via the actuator. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first catch and the second catch includes a retainer to limit movement of one of the locking bars. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first catch and the second catch defines a chamfer. 
     
     
       8. A method, comprising:
 engaging a first latch portion disposed on a first portion of a wing of an aircraft and a second latch portion disposed on a second portion of the wing, the first latch portion including a first catch and a first locking bar disposed in the first catch, the second latch portion including a second catch and a second locking bar disposed in the second catch; 
 actuating an actuator to move a third locking bar from a first position to a second position, the third locking bar operatively coupled to one of the first locking bar or the second locking bar; and 
 determining if the first locking bar and the second locking bar have moved from the first position to the second position to lock the first latch portion into engagement with the second latch portion. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising locking the actuator in an actuated state. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein engaging the first latch portion and the second latch portion comprises moving the second portion of the wing from a folded position to a spread position. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 actuating the actuator to move the third locking bar from the second position to the first position; and 
 determining if the first locking bar and the second locking bar have moved from the second position to the first position to unlock the first latch portion from engagement with the second latch portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising disengaging the first latch portion and the second latch portion.